December 2006

Most years I pretty much have a vacation the weeks prior to the winter holidays.  However, I have had an influx of real estate showings right up to the Christmas weekend.  That's a good sign.

For buyers, you still don't have a huge amount of competition and if you're thinking of buying a house soon, you really should be out there looking.  Some good properties have been on the market for a while and sellers are getting anxious.  If you wait until Spring to buy you might not get as good a deal as you could now.

Use the free MLS search for properties in your price range and with your amenities.  Even better, sign up for the Automated Home Finder Search that will send daily updates to your e-mail.  Search once and receive automatic e-mails

As a licensed REALTOR® I have a subscription to REALTOR Magazine, a comprehensive publication provided by the National Association of REALTORS®.  One of my favorite issues is the annual issue featuring a real estate Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report compiled for the current year (2006).  Download their report here.

I like to save this article to bring along on listing presentations to help back up some items sellers might think are worthwhile expenses to sell their home when I feel they won't get their money back.  In my opinion, this is one of the most informative articles the magazine puts out every year.

You Can't Always Get Back What You Paid

One seller insisted that he wanted to add the $5,000 onto the market value of his home because that's